GypsyMoonMinis said:
What does VSE stand for? I had recognized the test immediately, as the only deviation from the USEF version was at the 20 m and the end, we end at A and no backing. I ride my intro tests in a 20x40 ring also, the higher levels are in 20x60.
Ah, I didn't know that! A standard driven dressage arena is much, much larger to accomodate the turn radius of a full-sized horse and vehicle so I didn't understand what you meant as I've never done ridden dressage competition.
Very Small Equines (the American Driving Society's term for any equine under 99cm at the withers) now compete in either a 20x40 or 30x60 arena depending on the organizer's preference and in one of three levels: Training, Preliminary or Intermediate. Larger horses also have a FEI level called "Advanced" but minis are not yet allowed to try that. We do not have an Intro level (that's Training Level's purpose, really) and Prelim is considered pretty advanced for a mini. That is not a simple test when driven! It's very difficult for a horse to maintain proper bend on a small circle when constricted by shafts and without a rider's legs to support them; you also have to get your wheel exactly on the centerline and quarterline and figure your serpentine evenly given the additional complication of the cart.
On our tests we are also given marks for Presentation (how the horse and driver are turned out) and of course overall marks for Gaits, Submission, Impulsion, etc. All these are combined then run through an equation to determine the penalty points which are your score. In driven dressage the lower the score, the better!
GypsyMoonMinis said:
You may have said this already, but do you still compete? Does Kody still have issues?
Kody's stifle issues were finally resolved surgically in March of 2008 and he went on to win all three major CDE's we entered that year as well as a driving trial, several overall and dressage awards, a Stakes Championship in AMHR and two year-end highpoints.
A lot of his chiropractic issues cleared up with the improvement in his stifles but unfortunately he either injured himself or the cumulative strain of all those years of physical problems caught up with him because this spring it became apparent he had some sort of muscular problem in his back which hurt him when he tried to turn to the right in the cart. He eventually went dramatically lame through the back and has been on complete paddock rest for the last six months.
No shows for us in '09!
He's finally showing improvement thanks in part to regular massage, accupressure, and Reiki treatments so I have some hope we'll be back in the ring next year. I honestly don't know if he'll ever be up to the demands of upper level CDE hazard/obstacle work again but he should be able to handle the breed ring and I hope to make him part of a CDE pair with my yearling when the youngster's old enough. That's the only way Kody could legally step back down to Training Level but I'm fairly sure he'd be able to handle at least that much in a couple of years even if he could never go back to Preliminary. There's really no way to tell at this point, to be honest. Thank you for asking!
I have to sit out next year's combined driving events unless I can borrow a horse but the baby will be driving in 2011 and can then do all the unsanctioned events where three year olds are allowed. That and the breed ring should keep me busy until both horses are CDE-worthy! You should hitch a ride with the other Montana entries that come to Happ's each June for the huge CDE there. You could see the biggest crowd of mini entrants in the entire country compete over three days. So fun!
Leia
